Described is a device and method that makes it possible to acquire image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space with a simple configuration and to achieve display of a stereoscopic dynamic image in a true sense with a simple configuration. Light from an object (10) impinges upon a deflecting plate (11). Among the incident beams of light, the deflecting plate (11) allows beams of light at a predetermined angle to the plane of the deflecting plate (11) to pass, the beams exiting as parallel beams of light perpendicular to the plane of the deflecting plate (11). The light passes through a converging lens (12), a pinhole member (13), and a converging lens (14) to impinge upon a CCD (15). An angle of incident light selected by the deflecting plate (11) is sequentially changed as time passes. Therefore, image information output by the CCD (15) becomes plural pieces of two-dimensional image information for which the photographing direction changes as time passes and which serve as image information required for displaying a three-dimensional image of the object in a space.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A three-dimensional image display position converting apparatus used in a system for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space by projecting a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object obtained by viewing the object in different viewing directions, in projecting directions that are associated with the respective viewing directions, the apparatus converting the position of the three-dimensional image of the object displayed in the space and comprising: quantity-of-movement calculating means for identifying a quantity of a movement of a position of the two-dimensional image information in a direction in the plane thereof that is required for moving a position of the three-dimensional image by a specific quantity of movement, based on information on the quantity of movement of the position of the three-dimensional image and the viewing directions or the projecting directions; and position changing means for changing the position of the two-dimensional image information by the quantity of movement identified by the quantity-of-movement calculating means.
2. A three-dimensional image display position converting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the quantity-of-movement calculating means identifies the quantity of movement of the position of the two-dimensional image information as a value proportionate to “b” which is expressed by b=a×tan θi where “a” represents the quantity of movement of the three-dimensional image and θi represents the viewing directions or the projecting directions.
3. A three-dimensional image display position converting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the position changing means has: storage means for storing the two-dimensional image information; and address control means for changing the position of the two-dimensional image information by controlling write addresses for writing the information in the storage means and read addresses for reading the information from the storage means.
4. A three-dimensional image display position converting apparatus according to claim 1 , the apparatus being provided in a three-dimensional image photographing apparatus for photographing an object in a plurality of viewing directions to generate a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object in different viewing directions.
5. A three-dimensional image display position converting apparatus according to claim 1 , the apparatus being provided in a three-dimensional image display apparatus for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space by projecting a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object obtained by viewing the object in different viewing directions, in projecting directions that are associated with the respective viewing directions.
6. A method for converting a display position of a three-dimensional image which is used in a system for displaying a three-dimensional image of an object in a space by projecting a plurality of pieces of two-dimensional image information of the object obtained by viewing the object in different viewing directions, in projecting directions that are associated with the respective viewing directions, and which is used for converting the position of the three-dimensional image of the object in the space, the method including: a quantity-of-movement calculating step for identifying a quantity of a movement of a position of the two-dimensional image information in a direction in the plane thereof that is required for moving a position of the three-dimensional image by a specific quantity of movement, based on information on the quantity of movement of the position of the three-dimensional image and the viewing directions or the projecting directions; and a position changing step for changing the position of the two-dimensional image information by the quantity of movement identified by the quantity-of-movement calculating step.
7. A method for converting the display position of a three-dimensional image according to claim 6 , wherein the quantity-of-movement calculating step identifies the quantity of movement of the position of the two-dimensional image information as a value proportionate to “b” which is expressed by b=a×tan θi where “a” represents the quantity of movement of the three-dimensional image and θi represents the viewing directions or projecting directions.
8. A method for converting the display position of a three-dimensional image according to claim 6 , the position changing step changes the position of the two-dimensional image information by controlling write address for storing information in storage means for storing the two-dimensional image information and read address for reading the information from the storage means.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 13, 2007
November 29, 2011
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